DominiqueGonçalveslooksforelephantsfrombehindthe wheel.
InterestingEncounters
Gonçalvestrackstheelephants’movements.Shealsowatchestheminthefield.Shetakesphotographsofeachanimal.Somehavemarksthathelptellthemapart,likeawrinkledear.Othershavebeenmarkedbywar.Oneexamplemaybeamissing tail.
Gonçalvesrecordstheirbehavior.Shenoticeshowtheyaregrouped.Shewatcheshowtheyspendtheir time.
Oneday,Gonçalveswastravelingwithastudent.Theywentoutlookingforelephants.Afteralongdrive,theyfoundaherd.Gonçalvesstoppedhervehicletowatchandtakepictures.Shenoticedonefemaleelephanthidingbehinda tree.
Gonçalvesbegantakingpictures.Whenshelookedagain,thefemaleelephanthadmovedcloser.Shewashidingbehindanother tree.
Gonçalvesturnedherheadbacktothegroup.Thatwasamistake.Thefemaleelephantcameforwardasiftocharge.Shestopped.Thenshechargedagain.Gonçalvesthoughttheyweredone for.
Gonçalvesobservesthebehaviorofelephantsata water hole.
Thefemaleelephantcharges.ThisphotowastakenmomentsbeforeshehitGonçalves’ vehicle.
ElephantIntervention
Theelephantboltedforward.Shestruckthevehicleonthemetalgratewithallherstrength.Shesteppedback.Thenshechargedagain.Shepushedagainstitwithher head.
Next,theelephanttriedtoreachthepassenger’sside.Shehitthewindow,shatteringtheglass.Goncalves’student ducked.
Theelephanthitthecaragain.Theybeganyellingandbangingonthedoors.Itcharged again.
Justthen,thematriarchstartedtomove.Gonçalvesthinksthatshemayhavemadealow rumble.
Thatrumblewouldhavestoppedtheattack.Whateversignalwasgiven,theattackingelephant stopped.
Thevehiclewasbadlydamaged.So,drivingawaywasnotpossible.Withherheartbeatingwildly,Gonçalvesradioedforhelp.Finally,helparrived.Gonçalvesandherstudentspedoffinanothervehiclewiththeir rescuers.
LastingImpression
ThereisstillalottolearnabouttheelephantsinGorongosa.Gonçalvesremembersoneofherfirstelephantencounters.Shewaswatchingagroupofyoungbulls.Onebullapproachedthedoorofhervehicle.Hecamesoclose,shecouldseeherownreflectioninhiseye.Hestudiedherasiftodecidewhatshouldbedoneabout her.
Afterstaring,thebullmovedgentlyaway.Hedidnotseeherasathreat.Hewentbacktograzing,asifnothinghappened.ButGonçalvesfeltthatherlifechangedforeverinthat moment.
ProtecttheNaturalWorld
Protectingtheplanetisvital!TheNationalGeographicSocietyhassetagoaltohelpimprovethestatusof100speciesorpopulationsby 2030.